Stolen Minds

  *****

  Sophia approached the end of the hallway, her hope sapped by the so far unfruitful search for her brother. Still, alongside Rohan, she continued the search until she approached a completely shielded cell. She slowed her approach and landed lightly on the floor and Rohan followed as she switched visual ranges in an attempt to look into the cell.

  “I can’t see into that cell,” Rohan said.

  “Neither can I,” Sophia said as she considered the heavy door in front of her. She placed an open palm on its surface and closed her eyes, willing her senses to see beyond the walls, but still she saw nothing.

  “Is it empty?” Rohan asked

  “I don’t think so, we’ve passed a few empty ones and they looked very different,” Sophia replied. “Can you do anything about this door?”

  “Yes, but it won’t be quiet, are you sure this is the right one?”

  “I don’t know, but why else would it be shielded?”

  “Stand back,” Rohan said simply and he lifted his assault rifle, took aim and squeezed the trigger, but nothing happened. Rohan looked to Sophia before dropping the rifle and then he took a few steps back. He raised his arms and his suit's on-board weapons system activated and a pulse gun opened up from his wrists. He took aim and fired repeated shots, and the sound of the impact reverberated throughout the hall, until the door crumbled to the ground. Within the next second the security alarm came back online.

  “Go, I’ll stand guard out here,” Rohan said and Sophia didn’t wait for a second invitation.

  As she crossed the crumbled door, she saw a silhouetted figure standing in front of her, and then the figure came into the light. Sophia gasped and tears poured freely down her cheeks:

  “Dan, I’ve found you,” Sophia whispered before pulling her brother into a tight hug.

  “Thank you for coming for me,” Daniel whispered, returning Sophia’s hug.